Corner formers for planter boxes, or the like



R. H. ORTER Aug. 5, 1958 CORNER FORMERS FORPLANTER BOXES, OR THE LIKE :Filed Aug. 10, 1956 R m m W.

United States Patent CORNER FORMERS FOR PLANTER BOXES,

- OR THE LIKE Ralph H. Orter, Phoenix, Ariz.

Application August 10, 1956, Serial No. 603,365

2 Claims. (Cl. 21712) This invention concerns a corner former for use in the construction of planter boxes or the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a former made of metal rod shaped so that planks which constitute the sides of a planter box, or the like, will be held by the former in such a way that they form corner joints without the necessity for other holding means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a corner former that will hold the adjoining corners of a planter box made of planks so that four of such devices may be used to hold together a planter. box, or the like, in a satisfactorily firm manner and at an elevated position.

Still another object is to provide a corner former in the shape of a metal bracket made of metal rod pieces which are joined and welded together so as to provide a vertical support for the corners of a planter box and will provide support for boards forming the bottom of the box and will hold the side elements of the box in proper place without the necessity of other means of fastening.

Other objects will annear hereinafter.

I attain the foregoing objects by means of the device and the particularly formed structure including its component parts, shown in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a planter box formed with and held together by four of my corner formers;

Figure 2 is an inside view of one of the corners of the box, shown in Figure 1 with the planking broken away; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a corner former embodying my invention.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the several views.

The corner former is preferably made of round steel rod which includes a frame piece indicated generally at 2 coupled to a base portion indicated generally at 3. These two parts are formed from a single closed loop of rod in which the two ends are abutted and welded together at any convenient place, such as point indicated generally at 4.

The rod is shaped so as to provide two straight vertical supporting elements 6 and 6a which are joined at the top by a horizontal bar 7 to form the frame 2. At the bottom of each of the vertical members the rods are bent at right angles into horizontal foot elements 8 and 8a which together, form base 3. Elements 8 and 8a are directed toward each other from the supporting elements 6, 6a and are joined together at 10. From the junction of the foot elements 8 and 8a a brace 12 extends upward sloping toward the bar 7 and is joined to a horizontal bracket generally indicated at 14. This bracket 14 is composed of a pair of spaced parallel side struts 15 and 15a which are connected respectively to the supporting elements 6 and 6a at one end and carry respectively integral drop pieces 16 and 16a on their opposite ends. These drop pieces 16 and 16a are, in turn connected by a transverse horizontal support member 18. It is to be 2,846,107 Patented Aug. 5,1958

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piece 19 which contacts the inner faces of planks B and C, at each corner. The above constitutes the elements of the structure of each corner brace. This structure will be better understood by considering the former with reference to the functions of its several parts.

Within the space marked A the adjacent ends of the planter box side plank B and end plank C are inserted. The side and end planks of the planter box meet at a corner D. The drop piece 19 fits into the inside of this corner. The outer portion of this junction, marked E, extends outward beyond the vertical frame 2 of the corner former. The bottom edges of both planks B and C are supported on the inwardly extending struts 15 and 15a of bracket 14. In this structure the corner former itself may be said to extend diagonally with reference to both the side and end planks of the planter. The foot of the former rests on the ground and supports the planks a pre-determined distance above itas their bottom edge rest on struts 15 and 15a of bracket 14.

A corner former is provided at each corner junction of the planter box, asshown in Figure 1. Four of these formers 2 will hold the planks which bind the planter together.

Bottom inside side members F of the planter box are laid on the horizontal member 18 of bracket 14. The drop pieces 16 and 16a are dimensioned so that the tops of these side members are substantially level with the bottom edges of the plank members B and C of the box. Sharp tips 25 are provided on the top of each end portion of the horizontal member 18 to spike into the lower faces of the side members F and keep them in position against inward displacement. With the planter box constructed, as above described, using four side planks and two inner planks members F, the basic structure of a planter box is provided. Bottom boards G are then inserted with their ends resting on members E.

It will be noted that after the planks are cut the entire box may be put together without the use of any tools whatsoever. The only mechanical operation necessary to make the structure firm is the pressing of the edge pieces F down onto the tips 25. Boards G prevent any inward displacement of the side and end planks, and hold members F in place. with metal and thereby rendered waterproof.

When the box is to be used as a planter box it is filled with earth or the like and since the side members 6 and 6a of the former 2 hold the side and end planks together at all corners, the structure is firm and rugged and the box is supported from the fioor or ground a desired distance so that plants within the box are Within easy reach.

When it becomes desirable to change the plantings, or remove the box for any other reason, it.is only necessary to remove the metal liner, if any, remove the bottom boards G and then remove the edge members F. Thereafter one of the side or end planks may be removed by tilting the bottom of one of the corner formers outward to relieve the support of the arms 15 and 15a and thereafter all side planks are removed one at a time.

The formers 2 cannot be moved outward to release the side and end planks until members F are raised and re leased from tips 25.

I claim:

1. A corner former of the type adapted to form one corner of a generally rectangular planter box having side planks, end planks, support planks, and bottom planks, said corner former being adapted to fit diagonally over the ends of perpendicularly related side and end planks If desired, the box may be lined torhold the ends of said planks together to form a square joint, comprising a rectangular vertical frame having a pair of parallel vertical members, a horizontal bar connected respectively to the upper ends of said vertical members, a'pair of horizontal 0015 members integrally carried on the lower ends of said vertical members and extending inwardly relative to the corner to be formed and joined together at an. inwardly disposed point, a transverse horizontal bracket disposed on said frame intermediate said horizontal 'bar and said foot members, said, horizontal bracket including inwardly extending horizontal strut members secured to said vertical frame members, vertical drop members at the inner ends of said horizontal strut members, a horizontal transverse bar joining the ends of said drop members, and a plurality of upwardly extending spike points arranged at spaced intervals along the top of said horizontal transverse bar, a brace member extending angularly from the joined ends of said foot members to the center of said horizontal transverse bar, and a drop piece extending downwardly from the middle of the top horizontal bar to contact the top portions of the inner faces of said side and end planks to prevent inward displacement thereof.

2. In a substantially rectangular planter box, a pair of side planks, a pair of end planks engaged between the opposite end portions of said side planks and extending perpendicularly thereto, a support plank positioned in engagement with the lower inner side of each of said side planks and extending between saidend planks, bottom planks carried on'said support planks, a corner former detachably securing said end planks to said side planks at each corner of said box supporting said support planks in said box comprising a vertical rectangular frame diagonally disposed on the corner joints of said side and end planks having vertical side members engaging the outer faces of said side and end planks for holding said side and end planks against outward displacement, a top element joining the tops of said vertical members and having a drop member formed thereon engaging the inner faces of adjacent side and end planks for holding the side and end planks against inward displacement, foot members extending inwardly from the lower ends of said vertical members, a transverse bracket disposed above said foot members having inwardly extending horizontal members supporting the lower edges of said side and end planks, drop pieces at the inner ends of said horizontal members of said transverse bracket, and a horizontal diagonally disposed supporting member mounted between and secured to said drop pieces, said horizontal diagonally disposed supporting member supporting the ends of said support planks-and having inwardly extending sharpened tips to engage and hold said support planks from displacement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

